Cleared Senior/Principal R&D Electrical Engineer - W93 Flight Test Team, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

Join us in building the foundation of the first Phase X program in over 40 years by designing, building, and flying flight bodies for the W93 program. We are seeking an R&D Electrical Engineer to join our W93/Mk7 Flight Test Team, where you will play a pivotal role in developing innovative solutions, creatively addressing challenges, and ensuring project success through effective collaboration and communication.

As part of the W93 Flight and System Enabling Technology department (2383), you will contribute to the design of environmental flight bodies and the environmental qualification of Joint Test Assemblies.

On any given day you may be called on to:

• Technical Reporting: Author sections of final test reports evaluating flight body functional performance and present findings at customer interface meetings, including working groups or design reviews.
• Design and Characterization: Support the development and qualification of the W93 environmental flight body designs, including electrical architecture and defining specifications for voltages, currents, and cables. Coordinate the link margin analysis among internal and external SMEs for each flight test. Assist in generating, and maintain, the test data list with sensor, environmental science, and WR teams internal to SNL and across the NSE.
• Research and Development: Conduct research on historical and current nuclear weapon systems to inform flight body design, focusing on dynamic system environments to support the maturation of W93 System level requirements and long-term data collection.
• Collaboration: Work closely with laboratories, production sites, and component organizations to facilitate the design, integration, and manufacturability of flight body systems. Ensure robust connections through collaboration with the flight, telemetry, and cable teams.
• Trade Studies and Evaluations: Perform technical evaluations and trade studies, balancing performance, costs, risks, and technology maturation.
• Deliver Flight Test Hardware: Play a key role in delivering flight test hardware for Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) testing.
• Support Developmental Flight Test Builds: Ensure hardware readiness through comprehensive checkout procedures, conduct tests on assembled components, analyze data, and provide performance feedback to guide design iterations.
• Critical Thinking and Troubleshooting: Utilize the scientific method to identify and address issues causing unexpected behavior, considering performance, schedule, and cost constraints.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected candidate must be able to work onsite.

$114,000 - $227,500

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

• A bachelors degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development.
• Active DOE Q clearance or equivalent to start

The ideal R&D Electrical Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Ability to work independently and collaborate well in a multidisciplinary team of designers and test engineers.
• Outstanding verbal and written skills, including the ability to develop and present briefings that are clear and compelling.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

• Proficiency in data analytical tools such as MATLAB or similar software to analyze and interpret complex datasets.
• High competency in integrating various electrical designs and managing design budgets effectively.
• Hands-on experience with functional integration testing and diagnostics to ensure system reliability and performance.
• Familiarity with data measurement processes and their implementation to support accurate data collection and analysis.
• Familiarity with Shock and Vibration measurements and specifications.
• Understanding of Joint Test Assembly (JTA) systems, flight telemetries, and RF transmission systems to contribute effectively to project goals.
• Practical knowledge of ground station operations, facilitating effective communication and data transfer.
• Experience with NSA decryption tools and key loading processes to ensure secure data handling.
• Background in the design, development, or production of nuclear deterrent (ND) components or systems, contributing to the mission's success

The W93 Flight and System Enabling Technology Department is responsible for Flight Test planning and integration, System test asset builds, and the entire suite of logistics including the Integrated Surety Architecture. We directly engage across much of the Nuclear Security Enterprise including SNL/CA, LANL, PX, NNSA, LM, Navy, and KCNSC..

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q security clearance to start, or equivalent active security clearance with another U.S. government agency (e.g., DOD). Sandia is required by DOE directive to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.